Louis van Gaal has reiterated his intentions of sticking to a promise made to his wife about retiring from football in 2017.

During United’s pre-season tour of the United States, Van Gaal announced his plans to call it a day at the end of next season with the sole intention of winning both the Premier League and Champions League at Old Trafford before departing to his luxury villa in Portugal.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson, a man who knows how hard it is to walk away from the game after reversing a decision to retire in 2003, claimed the Dutchman would find it very difficult to depart. ‘You never know what Louis will do. When you get the bug it’s hard to leave,’ Ferguson said.

Speaking before United’s Champions League Group B at home to Wolfsburg, Van Gaal claimed it would be ‘very hard’ on his wife if he was to change his mind about retirement.

‘Normally I shall leave after next year, but what is normal in our football world? You never know so I cannot answer that question,’ he said.

‘But I promised my wife to go with her to our paradise [villa in Portugal] so it shall be very hard for me to deny that promise.

‘Next year I am 65 and say I stay a year longer, it shall be very hard to my wife.’